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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Judgment and Rewards, #43
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13,14)
By not pursuing the life of victory in Christ we lose most of the benefits we associate traditionally with being saved, with being a Christian. The rewards that ordinarily are associated with being a Christian are not the recompense that results from having our sins forgiven, they are the prizes for running the race of diligent discipleship; they are the results of conquering.
How can we be sure that we indeed will lose the crown of glory if we do not press forward in Christ? It is because the rewards to the overcomer are not some kind of gifts that will be handed out to us as we stand in line in the Day of the Lord. Rather, they are the natural result of our growth in Christ.
The ability to swim is not a gift that is handed out to us as we stand in line. The ability to swim is a skill that we gain after we have been taught, have attempted to put into practice that which we were taught, and have made many mistakes and have overcome our fear of the water.
The Divine pardon is a legal act that is based on our acceptance of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross of Calvary.
The Christian race is a struggle to arrive at life and rulership in and with the Lord Jesus.
The moment we become a Christian by believing on Christ and being baptized in water a door is opened to us. That door leads to the fullness of the possession of God Himself.
Redemption always is an opportunity.
If someone gives us a grand piano he gives us the opportunity to learn to play the music of Bach. He does not give us the ability to play Bach; he provides us with the opportunity to learn to play Bach.
So it is with Christ. When God gives Christ to us He does not give us the full stature of a son of God, an heir of the Kingdom of God. Rather, He provides us with the authority, the opportunity to become a son of God. Also, He gives us the grace to enable us to become His son.
We are pardoned by God the Father when we believe in Christ. Now what do we do? Do we wait until we die so we can escape from the pain of this life and go to live eternally in Heaven? Or do we set out to gain the Kingdom of God, to attain the first resurrection from the dead?
Is our goal to die and go to Paradise? Or is our goal to live in the fullness of the resurrection power of Christ?
To be continued.